A Critical-13

1.1.Sacrifice to khasôh/khihsô (kind of demons)

Khasôh/Khihsô refers to Satan or demon. There are mainly four kinds of difference sacrifices in regard to this.

Khathlao Bao (Khihsô bao): The word ‘khathlao’ or ‘khihsô’ refers to Satan

who lives in high mountain, in lake, in water,

precipice whereas the word ‘bao’ refers to sacrifice. They believed that this Satan was more powerful than any other demons in anywhere else. So they used to make sacrifices by using cock in red color, pig in black color, and bull to Satan once in a year or once in two years in the place where they feel as suitable. This was mainly done by the public for the goods of the public affair.

Tlyliah Bô: This sacrifice was made to Khasôh by killing pig or hen-cock in

believed that this Spirit guards over human being in village-town.

This was made in the middle of the village or in the upper top of the village. The purpose of this was for the welfare of the public goods. It was made once in every two years.

Khahrô Bao: This sacrifice was made to whom believed to be the greatest and

powerful who lived in high mountain or in water. Khahrô bao was

same as Khasôh. They believed that Khahrô not only guards the village and its people but also the whole country. So they made this sacrifice for the welfare of the public good.

Kahrô bao; this sacrifice did not take any particular time, but was made whenever they wish to do. This sacrifice was offered at the highest mount within the colony either near or far, but girls or women were not allowed to participate in it. At the first time, cock was used and the second time pig was used and the third time bull was used. The meat of animal was placed on the stone for Kahrô (Spirit). It was made in order that Kahrô might bless them in various ways.

1.2.Sacrifice to Satan (Lyurâhhripa liata atheihna)

 Though the sacrifices made by the Mara forefathers in the past were mainly to Satan, the focal point here is to classify sacrifice made to evil spirit who had selfish over human and causes him trouble, difficult, sickness, etc. Sacrifices for good health and sacrifices for crops are the two main principles that to be discussed.

Public Religious Sacrifices

When a person had killed a snake and if illness occurred in him or his family members, it was believed that the snake poison had caused illness. So they made a bamboo as a snake and pulled to the place where the snake was killed. Then they killed either hen or god and shed the blood on it. So that the illness that caused the person might leave. The meat must not be eaten up and it was placed in the place where the sacrifice took place. This sacrifice was known as “parih-hri soh”. Parih refers to snake and hri refers to illness or disease.

There were many other sacrifices like ‘Tlâraipa pasiena’ (to send sickness out of the person or village) ‘Sawhroh bâ’ (sacrifice for recovery of long term sickness) ‘thlah-aw’ (Sacrifice made to Satan when a person came back with sickness from field, forest, etc.) the Maras had used to make whenever they feel illnesses or sicknesses were caused by Satan. All the sacrifices mean here is to please Satan so that different kinds of sicknesses might leave them. As the cause of illnesses was only Satan as per their beliefs.

Annual Sacrifices (Lyu lâchhâ atheihna zy)

In the minds of the Mara forefathers, Satan was the one who authorized over all their daily activities, so as they used to make various sacrifices to please to him. However, the sacrifices for crops were made due to believing that they will yield the crops if they only offered sacrifices to Satan.

1.3.Sacrifice and untouchable-prohibition 

In the past life of the Maras view, there were various sacrifice (panana or atheihna) that they often made. Untouchable or prohibition here means which were not to be done or to be avoided during the sacrifices were made either for a day or onto a week and so on. They believed that if a person touches the prohibited one, it can cause sickness, poor and even dead. Hereby, they were so careful and fear of the prohibition (panapa) in within limited period.

Ø  To do what was prohibited during the period of sacrifice was dangerous thing

Ø  A women to be sat in kitchen in the time of sacrifice was an offence one

Ø  A girl or a woman should not cross over a person sleeping, it was meant to be causing blind or dead

Ø  To beat a person by broom was an offence

Ø   To see snakes while having sex was an offence

Ø  If the father cures his son or daughter, it was an offence which will lead them to unfruitfulness

And there were many more prohibitions or untouchabilities the past Mara society had been practiced for centuries.